Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-06-09
FOrtieth Anniversary Of The Blooming.
ton congregational Church.

FortIeth Anniversary Of The Blooming.
ton Congregational Church.
Yesterday was held the fortieth an
niversary of the Bloomington Congre-
gational Church. There were present
Rev. DR.. Eaton, so we'll known in Lam
caster. Rev. A. A. Young, of Boscobel,
Rev. r. L. CheenY, of Prairie du Chen,
the resident pastor Mr.. M Smith, Dea.
Tracy and wife, from Platteville, and
later in the day Mrs. Cheeny and Miss
Mary Porter. missionsry from China.
Services commenced at 1880 a. m.
Opening exercises by Rev. Young assis-
ted by Rev. Cheeny, followed by very
excellent sermon by Rev. Young, from
the words Thy Kingdom Come in
which he showed the inconsistency of
christians praying for Christ's kingdom
to come on earth, and then doing so
very little and giving so very little of
their abundance to have it come. He
maintained that it was Christians
duty to give literally as well as to
pray. He was listened to with great
interest. After few remarks from the
pastor and a closing hymn. picnic
dinner was served to all who would
stay and partake. Mr.. Young and
daughter had to return Immediately as
there was to be a marriage ceremony
in his church in the evening, at which
he was expected to officiate. At Las
prayer meeting was held for half
an hour at which Dea. William prssi-
ded. followed by historical sermon by
Rev. Cheeny, giving an account of the
organization of the church forty years
ago at the house of Hugh Garside.
There were IA original members, of
which Mrs. Hugh Garside is the only
surviving member in this part of the
country. He revived the history of the
church. of its early struggles with no
house to worship in, when they met in
log school houses, barns or private dwell
ings, through its various vicissitudes up
to the present time. After the sermon
there was a short recess. Then followed
the reading of several interesting letters
from former pastors and others that
had been connected with the church.
One from Rev. Mr.. Monroe, one of the
earliest pastors of the church, called up
some very interesting "reminiscences
from Dr. Eaton and Mrs. Deacon
Beardsley in which she told in very
pleasant way how Mr.. Monroe and his
young wife who were from Boston, and
used to all the comforts of life, COM
menced housekeeping in her fathers
granery; how, in those days, the ladies
wore their sunbonncts TO church and
the men their homemade jackets and
those from distance came in wagons
drawn by oxen. Several other ladies
read letters from Rev. s. Willy and Nor
ton, former pastors, also from Rev's.
Julian Dixon, AFRO Lyman, and E. Tracy
former members, but now doing minis
terial duty elsewhere. Also from Dea.
Fitch and his daughter Hattie Peck.
CharlesNewcomb and wife and mother
Then followed very interesting and
we'll written paper by Margie William,
giving an account of the formation and
success of the society of Christian
Endeavor for young people, copnec-
ted with the Blake's Prairie church,
which is part of the Bloomington
church worshiplng now in separate
houses but with the same pastor. Dea.
William then read a paper on the growth
and prosperity of the Blake's Prairi
church during the Is years since it
parted from the ''mother church..
After little general talk the afternoon
session closed. In the evening DR..
Eaton gave sermon to crowded
house. The services closed with the
administering of the Sacrament. To-
day Thursday the ladies' missionary
meeting met with Miss Porter at the
parsonage and this evening she will
give public address in the church.
Thus will close very enjoyable and
interesting time. Patch Grove June 2, 81